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Team IST searches for erroneous, suspect or negative reporting by the media that adversely impacts the tanning industry. Reports such as these have plagued tanning businesses for decades. Although the media sources will seldom admit a falsehood and print a retraction, IST offers these well-crafted responses to the negative reports that can be shared with your customers and potential customers, alike.
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A little different spin, but a good story …
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In Saco, ME, two young boys collect cans to raise money for breast cancer research and have done so for several years. This year, incredibly, their can collection was stolen. Local salon owner, Anne Donahue of Island Time Tanning, immediately came to their rescue. She started a “Cans for Tans” donation program at her salon. It generated plenty of comments on her Facebook page! Some immediately got in on the free tans, others just wanted to donate, and some came to the salon for a free session and then spent dollars on lotion upgrades. Social media largely supported her efforts; but sadly, Anne reported to me that there were some who didn’t like her efforts and commented harshly. They (none in her town, by the way) felt it was hypocritical for a tanning salon to assist with breast cancer and awareness. Are you kidding? Do folks complain about the bar that helps sponsor a running event for breast cancer? I operate the Georgia chapter of a venison donation drive in which hunters can take their harvest to a local processor that prepares the meat for donation. I raise funds to offset the processing cost, and we donate about 300-500 lbs. of meat to a home for abused women. Over the last decade, that amounts to about two tons of food. I have not received any grief from anti-hunters – yet. But, my gosh! Anne reacted to an unfortunate situation and did something purely from her heart.
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I contacted Anne to get the straight scoop. Wow! She’s passionate about this cause. Breast cancer took someone very close to her and she really had a tough time with it. She knew that getting involved with this project could help ease the pain of her loss.
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“Joe, the can drive was an enormous success – more than I ever could’ve imagined!” she exclaimed. “It started out slowly, just a couple bags of cans here and there. I know that virtually everyone has been affected by breast cancer in some way, so I emailed the radio station that first shared the report of the theft to tell them about our salon’s fundraiser. Within about five minutes, the phone was ringing off the hook! The increased traffic in the salon is crazy! I thought we might collect a couple hundred cans for those little boys, but our total was about 10,000 and we did it for the right reason.”
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As we chatted, Anne recalled an article in IST suggesting that salons should be more involved in their communities. The article described a month-by-month calendar, starting with a “Cans for Tans” food drive for Thanksgiving. Salon operators should think globally and act locally. Help the needy. Give to homeless shelters. Get folks to donate prom dresses for recycling, working with a local dry cleaner. Collect school supplies. I proudly told Anne that I wrote that story (with an assist from eye protection guru, Brenda Fishbaugh of Eye Pro). Laughingly, Anne admitted that it may have taken a while for the message to sink in, but she got it. Perhaps I can convince my editor to let me to update the story this fall …
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Congratulations on a fantastic job, Anne. Keep up the good work!
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